This study will draw from proven interventions to refine and pilot test a cue card driven computer-assisted intervention, along with HIV/STI testing, that will be tailored to each participant's demographic characteristics, risk behaviors, and biological test results. The specific aims of the proposed study are:

Compared with IDU participants assigned to the control condition, IDU participants assigned to the tailored intervention will report lower rates of direct and indirect syringe sharing at 3-month follow-up.

Participants assigned to the delayed treatment control condition will be offered biological testing and the tailored cue-card intervention upon completion of their 3- month follow-up interview. Use of a delayed treatment control group design will permit us to separate intervention effects on HIV risk behaviors from the general effects of participating in the study and completing a detailed HIV risk assessment.

Behavioral: Tailored Cue Cards

The proposed intervention uses education to increase knowledge and skill building to influence behavior-specific self-efficacy and outcome expectations. In addition to providing general information regarding drug use and diseases, the cue-cards include information that is designed to raise awareness regarding perceived threats (perceived susceptibility and perceived severity) related to HIV and other STIs and blood-borne infections, which increases motivation to reduce risk behaviors. The cue-cards also provide information regarding risk reduction strategies. The cue-cards also contain instructions on how to anticipate and avoid risky situations (e.g., using alcohol or drugs prior to sex). This information is augmented with an exercise that involves modeling and guided practice. This combination of information and exercises modifies outcome expectations by increasing confidence (i.e., perceived self-efficacy) that a protective action can be performed

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years and older

Genders Eligible for Study:

Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

Yes

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

The sample of 120 will be drawn from the Raleigh-Durham, NC metro area with the following targets:

40 sex workers (at least 6 male and 6 female of each race/ethnicity) - eligibility includes unprotected sex within the last 30 days and exchange of sex for money or drugs within the past 30 days

40 drug users who are not sex workers or MSM (at least 2 males and 2 females of each race/ethnicity) - eligibility includes use of methamphetamine, crack or powder cocaine, or heroin in the past 30 days and unprotected intercourse and/or syringe sharing in the past 30 days.

Additional eligibility criteria include the following:

be 18 years of age or older

self-identify as male or female

self-identify as African American, non-Hispanic white or Hispanic

not currently be in or seeking substance use treatment

speak and understand written English proficiently

be a resident of Wake, Durham, Orange, Johnston or Chatham counties, with no plans to move in the next 3 months

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01170741